Pacific Flyway Conservation Updates

Annual Dan Marciochi Grassland Landowner Meeting

May 19, 2018

Landowners, Conservation Partners, & Ducks Unlimited

Working as a Team to Conserve & Manage in the heart of the Pacific Flyway

Matt Kaminski Ducks Unlimited – Regional Biologist San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, and Arizona

Evolution of a Habitat Project • Dollars are raised through Grassroot Events and from donations from donors, corporations, and foundations. • Those dollars are pooled and earmarked for various initiatives within the state they were raised from and across the continent. • A conservation partner (public and private) calls upon DU to conduct a site visit to determine if potential project is viable. • From this initial site visit  to developing project scope  to developing cost estimates  to submitting a grant to fund a selected group of conservation projects  all these costs are borne by DU but are vital because they facilitate development and investment of millions of dollars back into California each year to develop waterfowl and habitat!

Completed Projects – 2017 Completed pipeline – Page Goose wetland complex – San Joaquin River NWR Completed conveyance structure – Los Banos Creek & Santa Fe Canal –Gun Club Road

Upland enhancement and native grass restoration – Salt Unit

Wetland enhancement – Salt Slough Unit What’s on the Horizon for 2018? San Joaquin River NWR

• Nelson Lake restoration and enhancement • South Vierra enhancement • North Vierra enhancement • Wellington Unit Restoration

North Grasslands WA – Salt Slough (SS) Unit & Los Banos WA (LB)

• Second phase of $993,000 WCB grant: new siphon to convey water to SS; improving uplands and wetlands at SS to benefit doves, quail, and nesting waterfowl; and new siphon at LB to assist with water delivery and drainage Grassland Water District

New conveyance structure – Arroyo Canal at Mud Slough Grant Updates – Your Dollars Hard at Work! • WCB: Public-private - >$1.6 M for West Gustine, Eureka Farms, Riverfield, Big Sandy, Underwood, Tracy, Big Water, Bostick Family Trust, Matt Diener, and San Luis NWR – Blue Goose and East Bear Creek Units • Developing NAWCA and WCB proposals currently with a focus on the Grasslands and Tulare Basin. • NAWCA – July 2017 Submittal - $1 Million ask – Lonesome Mallard DC, Willow DC, Agatha Farms, South City Farms, GWD, San Luis NWR – Kesterson Unit, and San Joaquin River NWR – approved and awaiting final contract • Small NAWCA – October Submittal – 2 $100,000 asks – Gable Land and Cattle and Lone Tree Land and Cattle - water delivery and conveyance improvements – approved and awaiting final contract • Duck Stamp – San Luis NWR – Kesterson, West Bear Creek, and San Luis Units – re-lift pumps and conveyance structure – initiate project in June • Duck Stamp – Merced and Los Banos WA – being ranked and reviewed • Pending approval to move NAWCA funds to Mendota WA to rehabilitate pumps, structures, and laterals plus 3 pipelines at 2 Tulare Basin duck clubs • February 2018 NAWCA – awaiting scoring (end of May) - $1M for GWD, Greenhouse, Gable Ranch & Cattle Company, Bostick Family Trust, San Luis NWR – East Bear Creek, & Mendota WA

Northeastern California 2018 Conservation Project Updates

Proposals Submitted or in Progress: • Submitted a Klamath Basin-focused NAWCA application in February 2018, with major projects proposed for Lower Klamath NWR and Shasta Valley Wildlife Area (and Klamath Wildlife Area-Miller Island Unit in Oregon). • Submitted WCB proposal for pipeline construction and well rehabilitation at Honey Lake Wildlife Area (HLWA). • WCB proposal in preparation for water conveyance improvement work at Willow Creek Wildlife Area (WCWA).

Northeastern California 2018 Conservation Project Update

Summer 2018 will include the following construction-related projects: • HLWA– pipeline project, • HLWA – rehabilitation of three ground water wells, • WCWA – pipeline project, • WCWA – wetland unit improvement project, • Honey Lake Valley/Willow Creek Valley – three private lands wetland habitat improvement projects, and • Modoc NWR – pump station construction project.

Northeastern California 2018 Conservation Project Update

Conservation Easements: • In October 2017, completed a transaction with Fall River Resource Conservation District, permanently protecting 4,491 acres of McArthur . • In March 2018, completed a conservation easement transaction with Pacific Gas & Electric Company, permanently protecting 3,168 acres of McArthur Swamp.

San Francisco Bay and California Coast 2018 Conservation Project Updates

Salt River Ecosystem Restoration - Phase 2 • DU assisted the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District in completing the second phase of restoration along the Salt River in Humboldt County. The project excavated 2,000 linear feet of channel and constructed a 6-acre sediment management area (pictured below) to increase water storage and reduce flooding in the . This project also benefits the downstream that DU constructed in Phase 1 of the project.

Ocean Ranch Restoration Project, Planning & Design

DU is working on the planning and design for a restoration project on the Ocean Ranch Unit of the Eel River Wildlife Area in Humboldt County. The project will restore over 400 acres of habitat and improve estuary health by breaching levees and excavating channels at historic locations to increase tidal exchange, while also controlling invasive species, and improving public access on the wildlife area.

Eden Landing E10 and E11

Last summer DU replaced one and installed a second water control structure on managed ponds at the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Hayward. These projects will allow the area manager to better circulate and hold water on 300 acres of pond habitat to benefit diving ducks in SF Bay.

Cullinan Ranch

South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, Phase 2

DU will implement over 3,000 acres of wetland restoration across the South San Francisco Bay as part of Phase 2 of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Phase 2 includes restoration of various habitats types (including managed ponds and ) for multiple species, including many waterfowl, that use these areas heavily during the winter. The projects will also include new public access, and improved infrastructure adjacent to the highly urbanized landscape of Silicon Valley.

Sacramento Valley Updates - 2018

• Completed enhancement in Field 73 at Grey Lodge WA (summer 2017) • Completed conservation projects at Willow Creek Mutual Water Company and Big Lake Farms (2017) • Wetland and upland enhancement project at Colusa NWR which will benefit 206 acres – summer 2018 • Undertaking a multi-year water (2017-20) conveyance system improvement plan for Upper Butte Basin WA – Llano Seco, Howard Slough, and Little Dry Creek Units

Grey Lodge WA

• Project activities will include conducting a topographic survey and preparing an engineering design. Select areas within the wetland will be recontoured to reduce topographic variation. New water control structures will be installed and swales and potholes will be constructed to improve water delivery, distribution and drainage. Project work will provide the necessary water and vegetation management capabilities needed to provide high-quality wetland habitat.

Thank you for your support of Ducks Unlimited – your contributions make huge strides for waterfowl and wetlands conservation here in California and across !